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Class notes: Central, Blackman students get Merit honor

The Daily News Journal
Published 5:35 p.m. CT Sept. 11, 2015

Central Magnet School students named National Merit Semifinalists include, from left on top row, Owen Thome, Julien Sheets, Zuo Tingfeng, Maxavier Lamantia and Noah Waldron; from left in the middle row, Chase Scott, Adam LaPorte, Katie Stueckle and Michael Chan; and, from left on the front row, Rachel King, Nicole King and Haley Young.(Photo: Submitted)

MURFREESBORO — Seventeen students in Rutherford County were named 2016 National Merit semifinalists this week, according to a release from the National Merit scholarship program.

Blackman High School students named National Merit Semifinalists include, from left, William Price, Sarah Henry, Lizzy Zink and Michael Maier.(Photo: Submitted)

The students — 12 from Central Magnet School, four from Blackman High School and one homes-chooled student — are eligible to receive some of the 7,400 scholarships worth more than $32 million offered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Nationwide, the vast majority of seimfinalist students are expected to become finalists, while about half of the finalists are projected to receive scholarships, according to the release..

Blackman students who received the honor were: Sarah Henry, Michael J. Maier, William E. Price and Lizzy L. Zink.

Homeschooled student Benjamin L. Barham was also named one of the county's 17 semifinalists.

MTSU gets $225K grant

MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State University will provide two Web-based advising programs after winning $225,000 through a national grant competition, according to an university announcement.

The Murfreesboro university was one of 24 colleges to receive a grant from EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit consultant tied to higher education and information technology, according to the announcement.

“This grant is evidence that the entire MTSU campus is on the right track in developing effective strategies to help our students achieve and succeed,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee in a prepared statement.

The grant will support two software programs that will assist faculty, advisers and students to track degree progress and analyze whether student might face additional challenges completing college, according to the announcement.

MTSU received the grant through the Integrated Planning & Advising for Student Success competition, which was created through funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

MTSU senior named national fraternity board member

MURFREESBORO — A senior student at Middle Tennessee State University was named to one of his fraternity's highest national positions last month, according to a release from the university.

Clinton Knox III was elected a grand board member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

“Being a fraternity man means much more than wearing a fraternity shirt,” said Knox in the release. “It is realizing that the organization is much larger than yourself. I am humbled and anxious to take on this opportunity in working for my fraternity at the highest level possible.”

His four main areas of responsibility are undergraduate leadership, undergraduate development, the undergraduate social institute and fraternity initiatives and programs.